Microsoft and the Xbox One just made a major improvement to their TV service. Before, the only way to watch TV through an Xbox One was with an app like Netflix or HBO go, or a streaming service like Sling TV. But now Xbox One owners can watch real, legitimate live TV through their gaming consoles. According to Xbox's official homepage, Microsoft has partnered with Hauppauge to create an over-the-air TV tuner for the Xbox One, which means that regular old ordinary local TV can now be viewed through Microsoft's latest console.
Microsoft lists stations like CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS as local stations viewable through this new over-the-air tuner, but they add that other cable stations- say, Comedy Central, Spike TV or Adult Swim- can be viewed by combining the new TV tuner with the previous Sling TV services. All of which will no doubt turn the Xbox One into even more of a multimedia center than it already is, according to the latest reports.
That's not the only major addition to the Xbox One this April. Ecumenical News adds that Microsoft has done a major overhaul on their Party Chat services, and that new icons and information have been added to help streamline the Party Chat experience, making it easier for users to figure out when their microphones and connections go offline. Other minor details, like Game hub links and new notifications for achievements, have also been included in the same update.
However, a major update might just be on the horizon. Voice Messaging, one of the most highly-anticipate new features for the Xbox One, still hasn't been added- but according to Ecumenical News, the feature is nearly ready to be released. Apparently, Microsoft wasn't satisfied with the current state of the Xbox One's voice messaging services and has pushed for more critical testing to ensure the service will work perfectly when it's debuted. Maybe in the very next Xbox One update, Microsoft will finally give voice messaging to the masses.
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